The Three Ways to Restart a Samsung Tablet

A reboot clears your tablet's temporary memory and stops all running apps, which fixes most freezing, lag, and app crashes. You have three options: a soft restart (the gentlest), a forced restart (when the tablet won't respond), and a factory reset (which erases everything). Most of the time, a soft restart solves the problem.

The method you use depends on whether your tablet is responding to touch. If it's frozen or stuck, you'll need a forced restart. If it's working but sluggish, a soft restart is enough. A factory reset should only happen if you're selling the tablet, returning it, or troubleshooting a serious problem—it deletes all your photos, apps, messages, and personal files.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft restart (power off and back on) fixes most tablet problems and takes about two minutes.
  • A forced restart works when your tablet is frozen and won't respond to the power button or touch.
  • Hold the power button and volume down button together for 10 seconds to force restart most Samsung tablets.
  • A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and should only be used as a last resort or before selling it.
  • Back up your photos, files, and app data to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud before doing a factory reset.

Soft Restart: The Standard Method

A soft restart is the safest way to reboot. It closes all apps, clears temporary files, and keeps all your data intact. Your tablet will turn off completely, then turn back on—this usually takes about 90 seconds total.

Press and hold the power button (usually on the right edge or top of your tablet) until the power menu appears on screen. You'll see options like "Power off," "Restart," or "Shut down." Tap Power off or Shut down. Wait 10 seconds after the screen goes black, then press the power button again to turn it back on. Watch for the Samsung logo to appear, which means the restart is working.

If your tablet has a restart option in the power menu, you can tap that instead—it does the same thing in one step. Either way, don't hold the power button down while it's restarting; just press it once and let go.

Forced Restart: When Your Tablet Is Frozen

If your tablet won't respond to touch, the screen is frozen, or the power button doesn't work, a forced restart bypasses the normal shutdown process. This forces the tablet to restart when ready without saving anything—but it won't delete your files or apps.

The method depends on your tablet model. For most Samsung tablets made in the last five years, press and hold the power button and volume down button at the same time for 10 to 15 seconds. Keep holding even if you see the power menu appear—don't let go. The screen will go black, and then the Samsung logo will appear. Release the buttons once you see the logo.

If that doesn't work, try pressing power button and volume up button together for 10 seconds instead. Some older models use this combination. If neither works, your tablet may need a different key combination—check the model number on the back and search "[your model number] forced restart" to find the exact steps.

Factory Reset: Erasing Everything and Starting Over

A factory reset wipes your tablet completely and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This means all your photos, videos, apps, messages, contacts, and personal settings are deleted. Only do this if you're troubleshooting a serious problem, selling the tablet, or returning it to Samsung.

Before you factory reset, back up your data. Open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then Backup and restore. Choose Back up my data and select Google Account or Samsung Account. This saves your photos, contacts, calendar, and app data to the cloud so you can restore them later.

To perform the factory reset, go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset. Read the warning carefully—it will list everything that will be deleted. Tap Reset and enter your PIN or password if prompted. The tablet will restart and erase itself, which takes 5 to 15 minutes. Don't turn it off during this process.

What to Do After a Reboot

After a soft or forced restart, your tablet should work normally. Open your apps to make sure they're responding. If the problem returns within a few hours, the issue may be with a specific app rather than the tablet itself—try uninstalling and reinstalling that app.

If you did a factory reset, your tablet will ask you to sign in with your Google Account or Samsung Account when it restarts. Sign in with the same account you used before, and your backed-up photos, contacts, and app data will restore automatically. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have.

When to Reboot vs. When to Call Samsung

A reboot fixes most temporary problems: apps crashing, the tablet running slowly, the screen freezing, or Wi-Fi not connecting. If a reboot doesn't solve it, the problem is usually with a specific app, your network, or your Samsung account—not the tablet hardware.

Contact Samsung support if the tablet won't turn on at all, won't charge, has a cracked screen, makes unusual sounds, or gets very hot. These are hardware problems that a reboot can't fix. You can reach Samsung through their website, the Samsung Members app (if your tablet can open it), or by calling their support line. Have your model number ready—it's on the back of the tablet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a reboot delete my photos and files?

A soft restart and a forced restart will not delete anything. A factory reset deletes everything except what you've backed up to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud. Always back up before doing a factory reset.

How often should I reboot my tablet?

You don't need to reboot on a schedule. Reboot only when your tablet is slow, freezing, or having problems. If you need to reboot more than once a week, an app may be causing the problem—check which apps are using the most battery in Settings > Device care > Battery.

What's the difference between a soft restart and a forced restart?

A soft restart uses the power menu and lets the tablet shut down normally. A forced restart skips the menu and forces the tablet off when ready. Use a soft restart first; only use a forced restart if the tablet won't respond.

Can I undo a factory reset?

No, a factory reset cannot be undone. That's why you must back up your data first. If you backed up to Google or Samsung Cloud, you can restore your data after the reset completes.

My tablet is stuck on the Samsung logo after a restart. What do I do?

This usually means the restart is still in progress—wait 5 to 10 minutes before assuming something is wrong. If the logo stays for more than 15 minutes, force restart again by holding power and volume down for 10 seconds. If it still doesn't work, contact Samsung support.